Sports

Focus from Wiggins leads to regional berth

Tigers play in district championship game Thursday night

By Brandon Boles

Times Sports Reporter

Posted:
10/26/2017 10:33:25 PM MDT

Wiggins sophomore Paige Finegan (22) goes up to attack the ball at the net versus the Haxtun Fightin' Bulldogs in the 2A District 2 tournament at Yuma High School on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times)

YUMA — The revenge tour for the Wiggins Tigers continued this week in the 2A District 2 championship pool. Two days after defeating Merino in five sets, the Tigers avenged another regular-season loss with a 3-0 sweep over the Haxtun FIghtin' Bulldogs that put them in the district championship game with the Yuma Indians.

Wiggins would fall to Yuma in straight sets, but the win over Haxtun secured a bid to regionals next week.

"Revenge was very sweet," Wiggins head coach Michelle Baker said. "I was proud of the girls in that match."

Baker and her team came to Yuma on Thursday locked in to take care of business with a regional bid on the line. The team focused on their mentality on the court in practice on Wednesday after nearly blowing a 2-0 lead to Merino in pool play earlier in the week. A 9-2 run to start the first set had them in control the entire way to a 25-17 set over Haxtun, the first set they won against them this year.

Some back-and-forth play in the second set prevented either team from pulling away by more than three points to the end. When Wiggins was on the door of nearly winning the set 24-22, Haxtun responded to force extra points and took a 25-24 lead. The Tigers would get a couple of big kills from Tori Jordan and a misplayed ball from the Fightin' Bulldogs to win the set 27-25.

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It was in the third set that Baker saw the focus from her team. Rather than taking a step back with their intensity and opening the door for a Haxtun comeback, they shut it down with a furious run late in the set. Tied at 10 in the third set, Wiggins scored 15 of the last 17 points to cruise past Haxtun 25-12 for the sweep.

"We really focused on stepping out on the court in that third set and getting the job done," Baker said. "We didn't slack and wait to the fifth set to get it done. This was something we practiced. You have to practice that mental part as well and not lose that slight focus."

Wiggins senior Tori Jordan (19) goes up to try and kill the ball at the net versus the Yuma Indians in the 2A District 2 championship game at Yuma High School on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times)

Jordan had a team-high 17 kills, Tanna Hansen had seven and Paige Finegan recorded three kills and three blocks to lead the Tigers over Haxtun. With the defense from Haxtun focusing on slowing down the middle attack, Baker saw different girls step up again up front to get the job done.

"Our middles did a lot of blocking for us tonight and we were able to throw the ball outside and to the back," Baker said. "We executed to get those kills tonight."

Baker added that the win over Haxtun was the team's best performance of the entire season.

"A lot of things came together in that match," Baker said. "We've had some good matches, but to get an important match like that done in three (sets) felt really good. I feel like that boosted our confidence and we needed that going into the postseason."

The nightcap of the 2A District 2 tournament saw Wiggins take on the Yuma Indians, a perennial power in class 2A volleyball and the No. 1 ranked team in the state. Both teams were playing to not only win the district tournament but to also host a regional tournament next week.

An early fight from the Tigers in the first set would be the most they would push the No. 1 ranked Indians in the championship match before falling 3-0.

A couple of points early saw Wiggins lead until the set was tied 9-9. From there, the tall and athletic lineup from Yuma began pouring on the big shots at the net. The Indians would go on to win the set 25-13. More lengthy scoring runs came in the second and third sets that Yuma won 25-9 and 25-17.

"You don't get the opportunity to play teams like that often. I feel like myself as a coach and these girls get better every time we play Yuma," Baker said. "Is it hard to get yourself hyped up to play a team that's such a powerhouse? Yes. But, if you look at it knowing that no matter the outcome you will become a better volleyball player, that's what gets us through."

The team received a plaque for their second-place finish in the tournament after the game. Wiggins will wait to find out where they will be heading for regionals next week for a chance to qualify for the state tournament. By finishing in second place in the district tournament, the Tigers will avoid having to come back to Yuma for regionals.

"That's huge for us," Baker explained. "To be able to go out next weekend and play some new blood, I'm very excited for that."

As for making the return to regionals after missing out last year, Baker added that her team is battled tested and will be ready for whomever they face next.

"From the very start of the season, these girls have had these amazing comebacks," Baker said. "They have stayed strong and fought back all season long. I'm excited to see what's next."

Regional volleyball tournaments are projected to be officially released from the Colorado High School Activities Association late this weekend.

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